3rd Sunday of Advent
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
In today’s Gospel Jesus speaks to the crowds about John the Baptist. He calls John “the messenger who prepares the way before the Lord.” John’s whole mission was simple and yet profoundly difficult: to help people find the right road - God’s road - and to encourage them to walk it, even when that road was costly, uncomfortable, or painful.
Every Christian, in some way, shares this mission. You and I are called to be messengers. Messengers of truth. Messengers of compassion. Messengers who help others prepare their hearts for the Lord.
And that role is not always easy. In fact, sometimes it breaks your heart.
John the Baptist was not a soft preacher. He did not sugarcoat the truth. He did not tell people what they wanted to hear, but what they needed to hear. And that is why Jesus praises him so highly: because he dared to speak truth with love, even when the people around him became angry, challenged him, or rejected him.
Being a messenger of God rarely wins you popularity contests. But it does win souls for Heaven. And that is what matters most.
In our everyday life, we often find ourselves in the same situation as John the Baptist: people come to us for advice. It may be a friend, a coworker, a sibling, a parishioner… and they ask, “What should I do?”
They usually do not need an Einstein. They need honesty. They need someone not afraid to say the hard truth. They need a messenger of God. And sometimes, the right advice costs you a relationship.
Some time ago, a woman came to me with tears in her eyes. She told me she was civilly married to a man who comes home drunk and beats her. And her children have seen everything.
She asked me, “Father, what should I do?” And I told her plainly: “Leave him. Protect yourself. Protect your children. Divorce him and build a safe home.” Because our God is a God of life, not a God who wants His daughters to be punched, humiliated, and terrified in their own homes. And her children should not grow up thinking that violence is normal or acceptable.
I did not need to be Einstein to say this. Only a Christian. Only a priest. Only a messenger of God’s truth.
But sometimes my advice cost me something. Because now, whenever she sees me, she does not talk nicely to me. She is angry because the truth demands sacrifice: sacrifice of comfort, sacrifice of pride, even sacrifice of a beautiful house. But what are these compared to eternity?
I do not regret the advice, because every messenger of God must speak for eternity, not for convenience.
We live in a world that worships appearance, money, comfort, and short-term happiness. But Christian life is not built on comfort, it is built on truth. It is not built on what makes me happy today, but on what prepares my soul for Heaven.
We must always remember: Earthly happiness is secondary. Heavenly happiness is eternal. And if you love someone - truly love them - you will care more about their salvation than about their temporary comfort.
Sometimes people ask for advice, but they do not want to change. They want God to fix things while they hold tightly to old patterns that keep hurting them. They want a miracle without conversion, healing without humility, peace without surrender.
Being a messenger means people will misunderstand you. They will walk away. They will get angry. They will gossip about you, or ignore you, or – yes - even bark at you.
John the Baptist lost his freedom. He lost his popularity. He lost his head. But he did not lose his integrity. And because he remained faithful, Jesus praised him, saying: “Among those born of women, there is none greater than John.”
And there is something else that must be said with love and honesty. Many people come to us priests asking for God’s blessing, God’s protection, God’s intervention in their lives — yet they continue living in ways that stand directly against His will.
One very real example is couples who are not married in the Church. They ask for God’s help, but they are unwilling to place their relationship under God’s order and God’s grace. How can we expect God to bless something we refuse to bring into the light of His sacrament? God longs to help them… but He cannot bless what they themselves keep outside His blessing. Sometimes the road to God’s help begins with the courage to return to God’s plan.
Today, the Gospel asks us: Are we willing to be God’s messengers? Are we willing to speak the truth in love? Are we willing to pay the price of honesty?
Maybe God is asking you today:
- to speak truth into your marriage,
- or to challenge a friend drinking too much,
- or to guide a child who is drifting away,
- or to encourage someone to return to the sacraments,
- or to tell someone they deserve safety, dignity, love, and peace.
And maybe - just maybe - God is asking you to tell someone a truth they do not want to hear.
And let me confess something from my own heart: Sometimes, after giving advice like this, I go to my room, close the door, sit down, and ask myself: “Lord, did I speak too harshly? Did I lose that person forever? Did I do the right thing?”
But then I look at the crucifix. And I remember: Jesus did not die on the Cross to make us comfortable. He died to make us holy. And at that moment, my heart finds peace. I would rather stand before God someday and say, “Lord, I tried to prepare the way for You,” than to stand there and say, “Lord, I kept quiet because I didn’t want people to be upset.” So, my friends, I'd rather lose your friendship telling you the truth than disappoint God.
John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus with honesty, courage, and love. And you and I are called to do the same.
So if someone asks you, “What should I do?” Do not be afraid. Speak truth with a gentle heart. Speak as a Christian. Speak as a messenger of God.
Remember: Our mission is not to make people comfortable, but to help them reach Heaven.
May God give us the strength, courage, and love to be true messengers who prepare the way for Christ in every soul we meet. Amen.